Protective shooting mechanism



' Gc. 6, 1931. s. K. sHusTER 1,325,926

PROTECTIVE SHOOTING MECHANISM Filed May '7, 1931 vlilllll Patented @et 6, 1931 essere! si y SAMUEL K. SHUSTER, OF SANDYVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF` TO IRA B.

SHUSTER, OF LOUISVILLE, OHIO i PROTQQTIVE SHOOTING MECHANISM Application filed May 7, 1931.

My invention relates to shooting devices for protection against robbery and holdups, and more particularly to mechanism for rapidly iii-ing a number of shots within a given area at a desired location, and controlled from a remote point.

The improved apparatus to which the invention relates is particularly applicable to banks for providing adequate protection in 'f case of a holdup, at which time it is desirable to direct a fusillade of shots at one or more of the robbers without endangering the lives of other persons in the bank at the time.

In the past such devices have been placed in a convenient locationkin the wall, as for instance adjacent a tellers window, and have functioned to lire a series of shots calculated to strike the body of a robber standing in front of the Window. In these devices, if the shots are all directed along the same path, the chances are very great that the robber might not stand in the line of the shots, and thus escape injury.

Attempts have been made to provide for tiring a series of shots in such a way as to distribute them over a given area, but in such instances a plurality of firing mechanisms directing shots in slightly different directions are required; or a moving barrel sweeping across a lateral path, similar to the modern machine gun, must be provided. Such attempts result in complicated and expensive mechanisms, diiiicult to manufacture and install, and requiring skill in maintaining them in proper adjustment and working order.

All of these prior devices have proven un- .satisfactory and undesirable because of the low degree of safety attendant upon their operation, since the lives of any persons in the bank at the time of the holdup are in grave danger, due to the substantially horizontal paths traveled by the bullets, which paths take in a considerabl-e area in thebank.

It is an object of the present invention to provide asimple and compact cartridge firing mechanism adapted to be located in a bank and the like, and operated from a remote point of control to fire a series of shots substantially uniformly distributed over a desired area. Y i

Serial No. 535,613.

Another object is to provide an overhead cartridge firing apparatus adapted to fire a series of shots downwardly to be substantially uniformly distributed over a given area, means being provided for'varying the timing of the firing so as to fire the shots in rapid succession or a plurality thereof simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to pro-l vide a single lcartridge firing mechanism which will distribute a series of shots substantially uniformly over a given area, which mechanism is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and operate, and requires no line adjustments of parts to insure satisfactory performance; and which provides for a high degree of safety' while affording ample protection against robberies and holdups.

These and other objects are attained by the improved apparatus comprising the present invention, which may be stated in general terms as including a vertically disposed cartridge magazine having a plurality of cartridge chambers disposed preferably in different angular directions, hammer means for firing one or more of the cartridges located in said chambers, means for intermittently rotating said magazine t0 bring successive cartridges under the hammer means, timing means cooperatively associated With said magazine rotating means for selectively actuating said hammer -means as the successive cartridges are moved into registry therewith, means for adjusting the tim-V ing means to lire the cartridges singly in rapid succession or a plurality thereof simultaneously, and remote control means for operating the magazine rotating means. Y

A preferred embodiment of the presentimprovements is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which i,

Figure l is a partially diagrammatic view showing the improved shooting apparatus mounted above a robber standing in front of a tellers window in a bank, the paths taken by the shots being represented in dot-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing how the shots are distributed;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the shooting mechanism mounted in a chandelier, parts of the latter being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view as on line 4 4, Fig. 3, distant parts being removed; and

Fig. '5 is a detached sectional view of the improved cartridge magazine.

Similar numeralsrrefer to similar parts throughout the several views. n

The invention is adapted to be placed in a convenient overhead locati-'on in a bank and the like, so that the shots fired by the mechanism Will be directed substantially venti cally downward toward the area likely to Abeoccupied by a robber or 'holdup man. In the drawings Vthe shooting mechanism is shown conveniently mounted in Aan overhead chandelier. U y

The chandelier indicated `generally at 10 is'hun'g fro'mthe ceiling in the usualY manner'as by chain 11, and may be located above and in front of a tellers Window represented at '1l-2 in 'a bank and the like.

"The improved shooting apparatus is con- 'cealedyvithin the chandelier Yand is pref erablyenclosed'in a housing 13. The shooting apparatus is adapted to be controlled by vone Vr more switches `14 located at remote points and'electrically connected thereto by conductors/V, and' is adapted to lire a series of shots downwardly vupon a robber 15, standing in front :of the Window. The shots travel paths indicated by the dot-dash lines 16 in Fig. 1, and are ldistributed substantially uniformly 'over the 'area 4occupied by the robber, as best shown by the points 16 in Fig; v2, lin a manner to be described in detail. y n I Y The improved shooting mechanism illfustrated tinfdetail in Figs. 3,;4, and 5, includes a frame 17 mountedr Within the chandelier Aand supported 'upon Jthe bottom plate 18 thereof.` `The plate '18 is provided with an aperture l19, preferably Aat its `central portion, thrug-l-i which the `shots are directed.

A 'shaft 20 is positioned above the aperture 19 and preferably axially alined therewith, lthe 'ends of the shaft being 4secured tothe lframe 17 by brackets 21. Rotatably mounted on theshaft and coaxial therewith is the cartridge magazine 22` having a )plurality of citrctiinferentia'lly located cartridge chambers 23 therein directed toward the aperture 19. yThese'chambers arepinclined in slightly different directions relative 'to cach other, and at Yslight angles to .the vertical as indicated in 5, and are normally loaded with cartridges 24.

A A magazine cover'plate'25 is'fized uponthe sh'aft'QO and spacedslightly above the magazine 22 so as to .allow free rotation of -.the latter when it i's-loaded'avith cartridges. This cover plate is preferably `provided With-a peripheral notch 26 for permitting reloading of the magazine, and With one or more firing pin apertures alined with the circumferential aXis of the cartridge chambers. In the drawings tWo diametrically opposite liring pins 27a and 27?) are shown. The tiring pins 27a and 27?) are normally held in slightly raised position above the cartridges 24 by resilient members 28a and 28?) respectively, which are secured tothe cover plate25.

Means for intermittently rotating the magazine 22 may include a vertically disposed shaft 29 preferably parallel with and laterally spaced from shaft 20, a motor 30 operatively'connected to the upper end of the shaft, and crank and lever means operatively connected between the lower end of the shaft 2f) and the magazine 22 for transmitting the rotation of the shaft to the magazine for intermittently rotating t-he latter.

AThe motor 30 may be mounted upon the frame 17 and is preferably provided with a Worm 31 upon its motor shaft, which is adapted to mesh With a Worm gear 32 fixed upon the upper end of the shaft 29 to rotate the shaft.

The shaft 29 may be rotatably mounted upon vthe frame 17 in any convenient manner, and is shown journaled in brackets 33 which are secured to the frame. A disk 34 may be secured upon the lower end of the shaft 2E), and a crank `or pitman arm 35 is connectedl at one cud, eccentrically with the disk 34 as at 3G. The other end of the pitman 35 is pivot ally connected to a lever arm i7 intermediate its ends, as at 38. The arm 37 is pivotally connected at Ione end to a bracket 39 secured to the frame, and -pivotally connected at its other end to a ratchet pawl 40. The other end of 'the ratchet pawl 40 has a 4notched portion 41 formed thereon which is adapted te successively engage ratchet Ateeth 42 formed upon the outer cylindric surface of the magazine 22. A spring 43 normally urges the notched portion 41 into engagement with the teeth 42.

rThus when the shaft 29 is rotated. by the motor 30 the pitman 35 will oscillate the'lever arm 37 to' cause the ratchet arm 40 to successively engage the teeth 42 and intermittently rotate the magazine 22.

A circular plate 44 may be mounted upon the underside of the magazine 22 and is provided ivith a series of circumferentially arranged depressions 45 which are adapted to be successively engaged by the resilient latch member 45 as the magazine is rotated. This latch member functions to hold` the magazine stationary as the ratchet arm 40 movesito the right as viewed in Fig. 3 to engage the next succeeding tooth 42.

Means for striking the hammers 27a and 27?) vto selectively fire the cartridges moved thereundermay'include hammer rods 47a and 47?) respectively, which are journaled upon the trame in brackets 48, 49a and 495. The rods 47a; and 47 5 are provided at one end 'with angularly bent vportions 50a and 505 which have hammer portions 51a and 515 at their ends arranged tov strike .the tiring pins 27a and 275 respectively, when the rods are rotated axially in their brackets. Springs 52a and 525 are provided upon the rods 47a and 475 respectively, for normally urging the hammer portions toward the respective tiring pins.

The opposite ends of the rods 47a and 475 have formed thereon angularly bent cam-engaging portions 53a and 535, which portions are engaged by cam wheels 54a and 545 respectively, secured upon shaft 29. As the cam wheels are rotated, they raise the respective end portions 53a and 535 to axially rotate the rods 47a and 475 and raise the respective hammer portions 51a and 525 upwardly away from the liring pins. When the end portions 53a and 535 drop over the high points ot the cams, the springs 52a and 525 cause the hammer portions to strike the firing pins and lire the cartridges positioned thereunder.

rIhe action of the hammer portions is timed by the cams so that the tiring pins are struck by the hammers when the magazine 22 is stationary. rlhus when two cartridges are tired the magazine will be rotated by the ratchet pawl 40 through a partial rotation su'ticientto bring the next successive cartridges under the tiring pin, and the action is repeatedly continued until all of the cartridges in the magazine have been discharged.

The cam wheels 54a and 545 are locked in position upon the shaft 29 by means ot lock nuts 55 screwed upon the threaded portion 56 ot the shaft. rl`hus it will be seen that by loosening the lock nuts the cams may be adjusted relative to each other so as to cause the hammers 51a and 515 to lire the firing pins 27a and 275 simultaneously. @bviously, by increasing the number of cams and corresponding` hammer and tiring means, any number of the cartridges may be tired simultaneously.

ln operation, it' a robber attempts to hold up a bank by pointing a gun at a teller while standing in front ot the tellers window; as soon he occupies a position directly under the chandelier 10, any authorized person in the bank observing the situation may throw one ot the switches 14 to immediately lire a series or' shots downwardly upon the person ot the robber. Any number of the devices may be placed above the tellers windows to insure adequate protection, and the switches 14 may be located within easy reach of bank guards when ordered to throw up their hands by the robber or his accomplices.

In reloading the magazine the same may be rotated manually to permit successively 16 in Fig. 2, over a given area calculated to 4,

take in the body of the robber standing in front of the tellers window, and that the lives of other persons in the bank at the time of the holdup are not endangered since the shots are fired downwardly.

The adjustability of the hammer actuating cams relative to each other, together with the angularity ot the cartridge chambers provides for instantaneous and ecient protection against one or a number or" robbers, and renders the device adaptable to any and all conditions.

l claim:

1. In a cartridge firing mechanism adapt ed to be located overhead in a bank and the like, a vertically disposed cartridge maga zine having a plurality of cartridge chambers, cartridges in said chambers, hammer means for tiring a plurality of the cartridges, means for intermittently rotating said magazine to bring successive cartridges under the hammer means, timing means cooperatively associated with said magazine rotating means for selectively actuating said hammer means as successive cartridges are moved thereunder, means for adjusting` the timing means to vary the sequence of tiring of the cartridges, and remote control means for operating the magazine rotating means.

2. In a cartridge liring mechanism adapted to be located overhead in a bank and the like, a vertically disposedV cartridge magazine, having a plurality of cartridge chambers disposed in different angular directions calculated to distribute shots over a given area., cartridges in said chambers, hammer means for ring one of the cartridges, means for intermittently rotating the magazine to bring successive cartridges under the hammer means, timing means cooperatively associated with said magazine rotating means for actuating said hammer means as successive cartridges are moved thereunder, and remote control means tor operating the magazine rotating means.

3. In a cartridge liring mechanism adapted to be located overhead in a bank and the like, a vertically disposed cartridge magazine having a plurality of cartridge chambers disposed in dillerent angular directions calculated to distribute shots over a given area, cartridges in said chambers, hammer means for tiring a plurality ot the cartridges, means for intermittently rotating said magazine to bring successive cartridges under the hammer means, timing means cooperatively associ ated With said magazine rotating means for selectively actuating said hammer means as successive cartridges are m ved thereunder, means tor adjusting the timing means to vary the sequence ot iiring of the cartridges, and remote control means 'for operating the magazine rotating means.

al. Cartridge liring apparatus including a frame, a magazine rotatably mounted on the trame and having a plurality of cartridge chambers, ratchet teeth on the outer periphery of the magazine, a ratchet arm arranged to engage said teeth for rotating` the magazine, a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, means for driving the shaft, a disk Xed on the shaft, a pitman arm operatively connected between the disk and the ratchet arm for intermittently rotating the magazine, hammer means arranged to strike one of the cartridges in the cartridge chambers for firing the same, and cam means on the shaft for actuating the hammer means.

5. Cartridge firing apparatus including a trame, a magazine rotatably mounted on the frame and having a plurality of cartridge chambers disposed in diilerent angular directions calculated to distribute shots over a given area, hammer means adapted for firing cartridges in said cartric ge chambers, a shaft, means for driving the shaft, ratchet means operatively connected between the shaft and magazine for intermittently rotatinp` the magazine, and cam means on the shaft for selectively actuating the hammer means as the cartridge chambers are moved into registry therewith.

6. Cartridge firing apparatus including a trame, a. magazine rotatably mounted on the iframe and having a plurality of cartridge chambers, hammer means adapted for iring a plurality or" cartridges in said chambers, a shaft, means i'or driving the shaft, ratchet means operatively connected between the shaft and magazine for intermittently rotating the magazine, and cam means on the shaft lor selectively actuating the hammer means z the cartridge chambers are'moved into regi: therewith, said cam means being adjustable relative to each other for Varying the timingof the iiring of the cartridges.

7. Cartridge tiring apparatus including a frame, a magazine rotatably mounted on the frame and having a plurality of cartridge chambers, ratchet teeth on the outer periphery ot the magazine, a. ratchet arm arranged to engage said teeth for rotating the magazine, a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, means for driving the shaft, a disk on the shatt, pitman arm operatively connected between the disk and the ratchet arm for intermittently rotating the magazine, a plurality of hammers each adapted 'or firing one of the cartridges located in said magazine, a plurality of cams on the shaft each adapted to actuate oneoi' the hammers for .successive- SAMUEL K. SHUSTER. 

